Campaign for a Bournemouth poet laureate gets stronger (From Bournemouth Echo)

Campaign for a Bournemouth poet laureate gets stronger

11:15am Monday 11th March 2013 in News By Melanie Vass

A CAMPAIGN calling for Bournemouth to have its own poet laureate is gaining momentum.

Annie Christopher, a singer and music teacher, appealed to councillors to honour Bournemouth’s cultural history by creating the special post.

And the 63-year-old has already won the backing of current mayor Cllr Phil Stanley-Watts, himself a keen poet. He said: “It would be very good for Bournemouth and an inspiration for young people.

“It would help enhance the cultural aspect of the town.”

Annie, who runs a Mary Shelley Celebration page on Facebook, told councillors: “I am proud of Bournemouth and its history with the world of creatives, such as Percy and Mary Shelley, JRR Tolkien, Aubrey Beardsley, Robert Louis Stevenson to name a few of the great poets, artists and writers whose names are inexorably connected to my home town.”

And she added: “I believe the creation of the post of poet laureate would enhance our reputation as a place of pilgrimage for creatives from around the world.”

She said Bournemouth’s Poet Laureate would be “an ambassador to further enhance our reputation as a world-renowned centre of creativity and inspiration” and said she envisaged someone with strong local connections holding the post, which could run for two to three years.

Annie’s deputation was greeted with a round of applause from councillors, who will consider her request at a later date.